With the season reaching its climax, Campion AFC striker Paddy Sykes sat down with Commercial & Media Manager Sheridann Dickerson and has spoken openly about his pride, his return to the club, and the belief still driving the squad heading into the final two games.

Now sitting on 173 appearances and 89 goals for Campion, Sykes is closing in on another major personal milestone — but his focus remains firmly on the team.

“It means a lot to have made that many appearances for Campion,” he said. “It’s a great club with some great people behind the scenes and I’m proud to have represented them. I’d like to get to 100 goals as soon as possible and kick on again from there.”

Sykes returned to the club in the summer following a spell with Bradford (Park Avenue), and admits it was a decision driven by both enjoyment and loyalty.

“The thing that made me want to come back was how much I enjoyed my first spell at Campion. This is the club where I’ve spent the majority of my playing days and I’ve had some great times here.

I kept in touch with Lee and Bicks throughout my year away and I have a lot of respect for those two as managers, so when the opportunity was there for me to come back I was never going to go anywhere else.”

Since his return, Sykes has had to adapt quickly to a new-look squad — with only one familiar face remaining.

“There’s been quite a lot of change from my last spell. The squad is completely different — there’s only Aidan Day left from the last time I was here. That’s taken some adapting to, as we’ve all had to get used to how each other plays, but the squad we have now is more than capable of competing at the top end of the table.”

His time away has also played a key role in his development, helping shape the player he is today.

“I’d say I’m a more complete player now. I learned some lessons in my time at Avenue last year, but it’s something I’ve tried to take in my stride and improve from.”

With 23 goals this season, Sykes has once again delivered in front of goal — and his contributions could prove vital as Campion chase a late push for the play-offs.

Currently sitting just two points off the play-off places, the task is clear — but no longer entirely in their control.

“The mood in the dressing room is that we are ready to fight until the last kick of the season to try and get into the play-off places. Unfortunately it’s no longer in our hands as we are relying on results elsewhere, but we’re focused on doing our jobs and seeing where it takes us.”

Reflecting on the campaign as a whole, Sykes described the season in one word: frustrating.

“I think in spells this season we’ve shown how good a side we can be — the run we went on before Christmas and into the new year proved that. However, it’s frustrating because we gave ourselves an uphill battle with our start to the season.

We were a newly assembled squad and it took time for us to gel properly, and the inconsistent results early on showed that.”

Despite that, the opportunity remains — and the squad are determined to take it.

“It would mean a lot to the squad to make the play-offs. That was the aim at the start of the season, to be competing at the top end of the table. We’ve given ourselves a chance going into the last two games, and we’ll all be disappointed if we don’t make it.”

Attention now turns to the final home game of the season — and a big test against the league champions.

And Sykes had a clear message for the supporters:

“Get down and support the lads on Friday night! It’s our last home game of the season and we need all the support we can get up against the champions.”

Two games remain. The fight isn’t over.

And with Paddy Sykes leading the line, Campion will be giving everything until the very last kick.